MI MILAGRO, JJ maybank

Chapter 22 - Hit the road Jack

By the time they realized, it was already morning, and although both would have preferred to stay in bed, cuddled up to each other, whispering promises and nonsense, they knew they had to fulfill their duty as friends.

They had to go fetch the boat that would take Sarah and John B, a boat that apparently belonged to JJ's family. On the way, JJ was telling Maria wonderful things about the naval vehicle. So wonderful that even Maria was a little jealous (of a boat, what nonsense).

However, they had to make a stop first. The keys were at JJ's house, and his father was there at the moment.

As they pulled up in front of the house, JJ hesitated for a second. It wasn't difficult to interpret his expression, pure terror in his eyes.

Maria affectionately stroked the back of his neck, "Do you want me to come in with you? Because I will. Just say the word and I'm right behind you"

He shook his head, smiling, "No, don't worry, I don't want you near him. Promise you won't get out if the car."

Maria nodded and, much to her dismay, stayed in the car watching as JJ slowly approached the entrance.

Maria didn't spend much time alone inside the vehicle, maybe 10 minutes, but for her, they felt eternal. It was as if hours, days passed for her. Just knowing that JJ was alone with that abusive alcoholic was turning her stomach.

She decided enough was enough, that she was going to go in and she didn't care what JJ said, that if she had to confront that abusive excuse of a father, she would.

As soon as she got out of the car, JJ opened the door at the same time. Maria approached him, waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey! How did it go? Did you -" her face froze as she saw tears in the boy's eyes, "Oh JJ! What happened? Are you okay?"

Without answering, the boy hugged her tightly. She returned the hug, stroking his back as he sobbed at a very inaudible volume, but it didn't go unnoticed by her.

"Maria, you -" he pulled away from the hug, with red eyes from crying, still holding her by the waist, "You're my family."

Maria smiled at him tenderly, "Ay cariño (Oh sweetheart), and you're mine." she looked at him worried, "Are you ok?"

"Promise me you'll never leave me. The rest I don't care about but you," he took a breath, "with you, it's different. You- you are everything"

"Escúchame bien (Listen to me)," Maria grabbed his face, "I will never leave you. Never. It's you and me against the world."

JJ nodded, snuggling his face in the crook of her neck. She smiled contented, but frowned when she looked at the door of the house.

She couldn't help but wonder how JJ's childhood must have felt like. She heard stories, about his dad being father-of-the-year mainly, but she pondered about the other things. How was he as a child? What did he want to be growing up? Why did he decide to surf? She believed that those where the important things.

Finally, they arrived at the garage. JJ, excitedly, removed the sheet covering the boat, while Maria watched him with a furrowed brow. She was not impressed at all.

"A 1983 Formula 402 SRI," JJ commented, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the vehicle. "The Phantom."

"This is the Phantom?" Maria raised an eyebrow.

"The first boat to make the run to Bermuda in under 16 hours, princess," he turned to look at her with a smile. "Forty years old!"

"Ah, que bien...(Oh, that's great)," she murmured, looking at the rusty and foul-smelling boat in front of her.